{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Alex Iwobi has never played better as Everton thrash Crystal Palace - Henry Winter
Alex Iwobi has been an “inspiration” for Everton of late and did both himself and Frank Lampard credit with his display against Crystal Palace, says Henry Winter.
The midfielder was involved in all three goals as the Toffees blew the Eagles away at Goodison Park on Saturday (22 October), being credited with two assists, including a delightful flick back to Dwight McNeil to round things off late on.
And Winter has gone as far as to say the former Arsenal man produced a performance as good as any in his career in leading Everton to an important result.
In his Weekend Wonders column in The Times on Monday Winter said: “Alex Iwobi has been a revelation. He led the Everton press against Crystal Palace and his passing contributed to all three of his side’s goals.
“He has never played better, which is not only a testament to Frank Lampard’s management, but also his own resolve after his career and focus drifted at Arsenal.”
Sparkling
Subscribe to Football Insider TV now
When Iwobi is on form the team inevitably benefits, and he was central to so much of the good work at the weekend, although there were numerous strong performances.
Having been overlooked as a winger only worth being in and out of the side under previous managers, including Rafa Benitez who apparently didn’t trust the statistics from his own fitness tests, Lampard moved him infield and helped transform him into one of the club’s best players.
Despite heavy investment in the midfield during the summer he remains probably the first names on the team sheet in the middle, leading to talks over a new contract.
If he can stay fit, along with the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, then this team is sure to finish in a much better position than the relegation-threatened 2021/22 season.
Three straight defeats against difficult opponents dampened the mood around the club recently, but the Palace game proved that Everton are more than capable of beating those outside the top six.
Lampard is steering things in the right direction still, despite questions over his suitability from some quarters every time a couple of bad results come around, and Iwobi is central to that.